Orienting apparatus for elongated articles



2, 1966 H. E. HANNAH ET AL 3,263,786

ORIENTING APPARATUS FOR ELONGATED ARTICLES Filed Nov. 2, 1964 INVENTORS.

HAROLD E. HANNAH WARREN J. ROBCHEAUX United States Patent 3,263,786 ORIENTING APPARATUS FOR ELONGATED ARTICLES Harold E. Hannah, Groves, and WarrenJ. Robicheaux, Port Arthur, Tex., assignors to Gulf Oil Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 408,212 4 Claims. (Cl. 193-43) This invention relates to an apparatus for uniformly orienting a row of randomly oriented elongated articles.

The apparatus of this invention is adapted for orienting an unoriented alignment of moving articles, each of which has an elongated configuration. The apparatus is particularly suited for orienting articles such as spray pumps prior to charging them to a capping machine. Spray pumps often have a configuration which includes a relatively broad flange with members projecting from the opposite faces thereof, one of said projecting members being an elongated, relatively narrow shaft extending perpendicular from said flange. The apparatus is adapted for orienting an alignment of any other articles having an elongated shaft, arm or rod.

The apparatus of this invention comprises in combination, three tracks, each having a longitudinal slot, and an article tripping means, such as a trip wire. Each track is inclined continuously downwardly from receiving end to discharge end, so that articles are continuously received and discharged by unaided sliding through the system without interruption in movement. Articles from any suitable charge means enter the system on a first track in random orientation so that the elongated arm of some extends downwardly through the slot in the track while the elongated arm of others extends upwardly above the track. Each article on the first track whose arm is oriented in a given direction travels uninterruptedly on the first track for the entire length thereof, exiting from the first track onto a second track. The second track is inclined downwardly in a direction opposite to the direction of inclination of the first track.

Each article entering the first track with its extension arm oriented in an opposite direction contacts a tripping means which causes the article to tilt and be deflected onto a third track which overlies the first track but is spaced apart therefrom. The third track is an intermediate track between the first and second tracks and it channels the article from the first track to the second track. A portion of the length of the third track at its discharge end and a portion of the length of the second track near its receiving end overlap each other in facing spaced-apart relationship, with the facing, spaced-apart portions of the second and third tracks being correspondingly curved so that the second and the third tracks supplement each other to form a U-bend. As each article travels from the upper to the lower region of the U-bend, it becomes inverted, i.e. at the upper region of the U-bend the elongated arm projects in one direction while at the bottom of the U-bend the elongated arm projects in an opposite direction.

The third track and article tripping means cooperate with each other to sort the articles entering the system on the first track by avoiding interception and rerouting of articles whose extension arm projects in a proper direction and only intercepting and rerouting those articles whose extension arm projects in an improper or opposite direction so that the latter articles are transferred from the first track to the third track. The U-bend formed by the curved, facing, spaced-apart portions of the second and third tracks performs the cooperative function of inverting those articles which are routed onto the third track.

The function of the U-bend formed at the juncture of ice second and third tracks is cooperative with respect to the function of the tripping means in that the U-bend accomplishes inversion of all articles channeled through 1t by the tripping means. Thereby, the tripping means and the third track cooperate to sort all articles oriented 1n an improper direction from the remainder of the articles, while the U-bend formed at the juncture of the second and third track reorients the sorted articles into an opposite and proper direction. When the articles reach the second track, either via the first track only or via both the first and the third tracks, uniform article orientation is accomplished and all articles slide along the length of the third track with their elongated arms projecting in a common direction.

These and other advantages of the invention Will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a side view of the article orienting apparatus of this invention, and

FIGURE 2 is a view taken through the section 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

Elongated articles are charged from any suitable means, such as a vibratory hopper or a conveyor belt, into the orienting apparatus on a downwardly inclined track 10 having a central longitudinal slot 12. Track 11, having a similar central longitudinal slot, assists in retaining articles on track 10. Each article is broadest at flange 14. A relatively short, stout barrel shaped portion 16 extends from one surface of flange 14 while a. relatively long, narrow rod 18 extends from the opposite surface of flange 14. Each article entering the system on track 10 Which is oriented so that arm 18 extends downwardly through slot 12 continues travel on track 10 until reaching crossover track 20 which directs it to track 22. The sequential positions of travel for an article entering the system with arm 18 extending downwardly are indicated at 24, 26 and 28. The track system, including track 10, crossover track 20, and track 22 is continuously inclined downwardly so that motion of each article introduced into the apparatus continues uninterrupted through the system. Although tracks 10 and 22 are each inclined downwardly, each is inclined downwardly in opposite directions.

When an article enters the system with arm 18 extending upwardly, the arm comes into contact with trip wire 30. Contact of elongated arm 18 with trip wire 30 causes flange 14 to be tilted, as indicated at 32, so that flange 14 is lifted from track 10 and becomes routed onto track 34. Track 34 is downwardly inclined in the same direction as track 10 but extends along a higher elevation than track 10. The article receiving end 42 of track 34 overlies track 10 and is spaced slightly apart from track 10 by an amount suflicient to permit passage of flange 14 between end 42 of track 34 and track 10. Trip Wire 30 thereby cooperates with tracks 10 and 34 to sort articles oriented in one direction from articles oriented in an opposite direction. It performs its sorting function by lifting flange 14 of each article having an upwardly projecting arm so that the article is routed from track 10 to track 34, while permitting the flange of each article having a downwardly projecting arm to pass between end 42 of track 34 and track 10.

The bottommost extremity of track 34, which is its discharge end, and the uppermost extremity of track 22 ping extremities of tracks 34 and 22 are sufiiciently separated that flange 14 falls freely through space 36 without binding. Binding is further prevented by making the radius of curvature of the U-bend very large relative to the size of flange 14. The path of travel of articles entering the system with extension arm 18 extending upwardly is indicated at 32, 38, 40 and 28.

As indicated in FIGURE 2, longitudinal slot 44 in track 34 is relatively wide, being slightly wider than barrel portion 16 of each article, while longitudinal slot 46 of track 22 is relatively narrow being only slightly wider than rod 18 of each article. The longitudinal slot at the uppermost end of track is relatively wide for a longitudinal distance sufficient for articles having upwardly extending arms 18 to be lifted onto track 34 and to move completely away from track 10, whereupon the width of the longitudinal slot in track 10 becomes relatively narrow as indicated at 12 in FIGURE 2. In each track, the central slot extends the entire length thereof. 7 The arm 18 of each article reaching the position 28 extends downwardly. Therefore, although articles entering the uppermost portion of the system between tracks 10 and 11 are randomly oriented, some with arm 18 extending in one direction and some with arm 18 extending in an opposite direction, when the articles exit from the bottommost portion of the system on track 22 the articles are uniformly oriented, each having a downwardly extending elongated arm.

Various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope thereof as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A apparatus for uniformly orienting randomly oriented elongated articles having a relatively broad flange with members projecting from both surfaces of said flange and one of said projecting members being an elongated member, comprising first, second and third tracks each having a slot extending longitudinally the length thereof, each having a receiving and a discharge end and each being inclined in a generally downwardly direction from its receiving end to its discharge end, said first and second tracks being downwardly inclined in opposite directions with said first track adapted to discharge articles onto said second track, said third track downwardly inclined in the same direction as the first track, the receiving end of said third track overlaying said first track in spacedapart relationship with respect thereto, trip means in the vicinity of the receiving end of said third track adapted to contact only elongated article members projecting toward it and tilt the flanges associated with said elongated members from the first track onto the third track, a length of said third track along its discharge end and a length of said second track along its receiving end facing each other in curved spaced-apart relationship to form a U bend adapted so that the flange of .articles on said third track travels between said curved facing track portions and said articles become inverted in transit, said apparatus adapted so that oppositely oriented articles entering said first track are uniformly oriented on said second track.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said trip means is a wire.

3. The apparatus of claim lwherein said trip means is disposed above said third track.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third track extends above said first track.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,556,469 10/ 1925 Alderman.

2,379,564 7/ 1945 Cole 221-158 2,505,398 4/ 1950 Harris 193-43 2,776,034 1/1957 Jordt 19343 EVON c. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Examiner.

A. L. LEVINE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR UNIFORMLY ORIENTING RANDOMLY ORIENTED ELONGATED ARTICLES HAVING A RELATIVELY BROAD FLANGE WITH MEMBERS PROJECTING FROM BOTH SURFACES OF SAID FLANGE AND ONE OF SAID PROJECTING MEMBERS BEING AN ELONGATGED MEMBER, COMPRISING FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD TRACKS EACH HAVING A SLOT EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THE LENGTH THEREOF EACH HAVING A RECEIVING AND A DISCHARGE END AND EACH BEING INCLINED IN A GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY DIRECTION FROM ITS RECEIVING END TO ITS DISCHARGE END, SAID FIRST AND SECOND TRACKS BEING DOWNWARDLY INCLINED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS WITH SAID FIRST TRACK ADAPTED TO DISCHARGE ARTICLES ONTO SAID SECOND TRACK SAID TRACK DOWNWARDLY INCLINED IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE FIRST TRACK, THE RECEIVING END OF SAID THIRD TRACK OVERLAYING SAID FIRST TRACK IN SPACEDAPART RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT THERETO, TRIP MEANS IN THE VICINITY OF THE RECEIVING END OF SAID THIRD TRACK ADAPTED TO CONTACT ONLY ELONGATED ARTICLE MEMBERS PROJECTING TOWARD IT AND TILT THE FLANGES ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ELONGATED MEMBERS FROM THE FIRST TRACK ONTO THE THIRD TRACK, A LENGTH OF SAID THIRD TRACK ALONG ITS DISCHARGE END AND A LENGTH OF SAID SECOND TRACK ALONG ITS RECEIVING END FACING EACH OTHER IN CURVED SPACED-APART RELATIONSHIP TO FORM A U-BEND ADAPTED SO THAT THE FLANGE OF ARTICLES ON SAID THIRD TRACK TRAVELS BETWEEN SAID CURVED FACING TRACK PORTIONS AND SAID ARTICLES BECOMES INVERTED IN TRANSIT, SAID APPARATUS ADAPTED SO THAT OPPOSITELY ORIENTED ARTICLES ENTERING SAID FIRST TRACK ARE UNIFORMLY ORIENTED ON SAID SECOND TRACK. 